Venice, early 1800s Isabella Tenderini, a wealthy merchant's widow rescues a stranger from drowning in one of Venice's canals. And how does the man repay her selfless act? By kissing her-her, a respectable woman. Not only is Raphael di Santori grateful for his life being saved, he would also like to thank his rescuer very intimately-more intimately than decorum allows. But then, Raphael has never been one to play by the rules-as a vampire he doesn't have to.